Happy Birthday

At 8:53 and 8:54 our boys officially turned 5. Can you believe it? I can't. It seems like yesterday that we were finding out we were pregnant. Quite the surprise when only 2 months earlier we had been in Oregon adopting a beautiful baby girl. "You will never conceive and carry another baby" I will never forget the fertility doctor saying that. At the time it cut my soul like dagger. Now it makes me laugh...never put God in the "can't" category :)

A few weeks after the initial shock came the bigger shock...it was identical twins. Laying on the ultrasound table I was shaking so hard they had to stop the ultrasound. This could not be, I had an 8 yr old and a 3 month old...it could be and it was. We were going to be parents of 4 kids...3 of whom would be born within 11 months. The twins were due July 8 ( a little more than a month shy of Olivia's first birthday).

I should have known it would not be that easy to calculate. The pregnancy was relatively uneventful, well except for the fact there were 2 babies and I was labeled "Advanced Maternal Age". But other than the crowded womb and wounded ego, it was pretty calm. That is until the wee hours of May 15, 2005. Suddenly we were speeding down I-24 making phone calls to everyone we knew that would wake up at 4 in the morning to pray. Our babies were going to be born that day, I was only 32 weeks along. We were scared, no other way to say it.

Once at the hospital, the staff went into red alert mode...AMA mother, twins, 32 weeks, that combo apparently catches the attention of medical personnel. After a whirlwind of iv's, monitors, nurses, doctors and ultrasounds it was determined that Joshua's sack had ruptured that morning but Lucas's fluid was dangerously low, his sack had ruptured maybe the day before. An emergency c-section was the plan. So at 8:53 Joshua David came into the world weighing 3lb 10 oz. Then 1 minute later at 8:53 Lucas Stout followed his brother into the world at 3lb 6oz. They were so tiny and fragile. Those early hours are a big blur to me. I have vague memories of asking about apgar scores, my bed being wheeled into the NICU, friends dropping by. The days that followed were rough, but our boys quickly proved themselves fighters. Within days they were labeled "feeder, grower" which in NICU terms meant that there were NO major health concerns other than weight. Lucas' jaundice was under control so all they had to do was grow. What a blessing!

At about 2 weeks old we were allowed to put them in the same isolette for a short "visit".

In a few weeks they were home with us....Then the real fun started :) I would tell you all about their first year but I don't remember it...seriously.

I love this picture. It looks like they are sharing a great story...or...planning a great scheme.
No walk down memory lane would be complete without the triple stroller that defined us for so many years :)

Putting them to bed on their first birthday.

When I checked on them last night, this is what I found. Five years after sharing a womb, they still sleep on top of each other. I guess when you were once the same person this makes you feel as if all is right.

So Happy 5th Birthday Joshua and Lucas. I love you forever, I like you for always, As long as I'm living, My babies you'll be.